Table-lock.



No. 826,196. PATENTBD JULY 17, 1906.

Y J. T. SENG.

TABLE LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 16.1904.

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PATENTED JULY 1'7, 1906.-

I. T. SENG.

TABLE LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 18.1904.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2,

q/mimmao; 49. 3 13W 11-: HURRIs PETERS c UNITED STATES PATENT orrron.

JULIUS T. SENG, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE SENG COM- PANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

TABLE-LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 17. 1906.

To cvZl whom, it may concern: Be it known that I, J LIUs T. SENG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Table-Lock, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in table-locks, or, in other words, devices usually employed for locking and. drawing together the pedestal-sections of extension-tables.

The objects and advantages of the invention, together with. the novel features thereof, will be hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the central portion of a pedestal-table provided with my improved mechanism, the same bein shown as locked. Fig. 2 is a detail view or the two locking-levers arranged in relative positions. Fig. 3 is a detail of the fastening device hereinafter referred to. Fig. 4 is a detail showing the preferred manner ofcoupling the draw-lever and draw-rod. Fig. 5 is a detail hereinafter described.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the views of the drawings.

1 1 designate the table-top sections, 2 2 the pedestalsections, and 3 the center leg, of the conventional pedestal extension-table, the leg being connected to the usual cross-piece 4. Upon each of the pedestal-sections and out of alinement with each other is located and secured a bearing-lug 5, and transversely opposite the same is located, on the opposite pedestal-section and secured thereto anjinclined block 6, the same having its center somewhat depressed.

The lugs 5, as best shown in Fig, 2 of the drawings, are preferably struck up of sheet metal, and each comprises a base portion 7 and a vertical ear 8 so, also, in regard to the inclined blocks 6, details of which are shown in Figs. 4 and 5,. These blocks may be conveniently struck up from sheet metal, and each comprises opposite securing-flanges 9 and a central inclined or depressed transverse portion or top 10. The flanges 9 are perforated for the reception of screws, by which means the block may be attached to the upper horizontal portions of the pedestal-sections and likewise with regard to the base portions 7 of the lug.

Pivoted, as at 11, in each. of the lugs 5 is a desired means.

drawing-lever 12, the two levers being arranged side by'side and each being disposed opposite to its companion. The free end of each drawing-lever may be provided with a trunnion 13 upon which may be rotatably mounted. a loose roller 14, designed to travel up the inclined block 6, whereby the levers 12 become elevated on the pivots 11.

L-shaped erforated brackets 15 .are secured to the ower ends of the pedestal-sections 2 and extend within the same, and through the perforations in said brackets depend the lower threaded ends of a pair of draw-rods 16, the upper ends of which are angularly disposed, as at 17, (see Figs. 1 and 2,) and each pass through one of a series of convenient openings or perforations 18 in each of the levers 12, in which position they may be retained by cotter-pins 19 or other The lower ends of the drawrods 16 may be adjustably secured in the brackets 15 by means of nuts 20, threaded on said rods and bearing against the. under sides of the brackets.

Thus far it will be seen that the operation of the device will be substantially as follows:

As the two pedestal-sections are brought together in the act of closing the table the opposite ends of the levers, which are provided with the rollers 14, ride up the inclined blocks 6, thereby elevating the levers and exerting a drawing tendency upon the drawrods 16, which latter serve to draw the pedestal-sections snugly together at their meeting edges and close the usual unsightly crevice. By a proper formation given to the inclined blocks 6 it is possible to maintain the.

parts in this position, though there is a tendency for the pedestal-sections to reopen when any slight jar may be imparted to the table. I therefore prefer to employ, in connection with this lock, some simple form of fastening devicesuch, for instance, as I have illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings, although, as will be obvious, the form of device for this purpose may be changed at Will. However, referring to Fig. 3, 21 designates a securing-plate designed to be applied to the under side of one of the table-top sections ad jacent to the meeting edge, and said plate has formed at convenient points suitable screw-holes 22. Upon a stud 23, projecting from the plate near its forward end, is inter mediately pivoted a locking-hook 24. Near.

the opposite end of the plate upon a stud 25 is fulcrumed a lever 26, the same at its outer free end being preferably bent and extending to a point near the edge of'the table. The inner end of the lever 26 and the corresponding end of the hook 24 are connected by an intermediate link 27, the ends of which are secured to the lever and the hook by means of rivets 28. At opposite sides of the link 27 stop-pins 29 may depend from the plate 21, so as to limit the movements of these parts.

30 designates a securing-plate having suitable screw-holes 31 for the purpose of securing the same by means of screws to the under side of the opposite table-top section adjacent to the meeting edge thereof. From the plate 30, near its inner end, depends a headed stud 32, the same being in line with and adapted to be engaged by the end of the hook 24. The pedestal-sections having been drawn together, as hereinbefore described, in order to secure the same it is simply necessary to vibrate the lever 26, so as to cause the hook 24 to engage and bind upon the shank of the stud 32. When it is desired to extend or open the table, the lever 26 is vibrated in the opposite direction, so as to dis engage the hook from the stud and the tablesections drawn apart.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that the invention embraces comparatively few easily constructed and assembled parts, which for the most part may be struck up from suitable sheet metal, also that by operating the nuts on the lower ends of the draw-rods 16 any slack may be compensated for. Of course I have illustrated the invention as applied to one of the many styles of pedestal-tables, locating said mechanism in accordance with the construction thereof; but it will be understood that the location of the mechanism may be changed to suit other constructions of tables without departing I from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing any of its advantages, and, finally, that the fastening device may be omitted in some instances or the same altered in any manner desired.

Instead of connecting the draw-rods to the bottoms or lower ends of the pedestal-sec tions, as shown inFig. l I may suspend from the levers l2 angular coupling-straps 32, (see Fig. 4,) the same being connected loosely with said levers by means of ordinary cotterpins 33. v The draw-rods need not extend to the lower ends of the pedestal-sections, and, in fact, I prefer that they terminate in lateral branches 34, the same being designed to engage corresponding holes formed in the pedestal-sections immediately below the longitudinal middles thereof. The upper ends of the rods would in such case be threaded and passed through perforations formed in the lower bent ends 35 of the angular couplingstraps. The upper ends of the rods would also be threaded and nuts 36 and 37 be applied thereto above and below the said bent portions 35 of the coupling-straps. In this manner the device for drawing the pedestal sections together would be practically out of sight, and adjustments could be made more conveniently than in the construction shown in Fig. 1.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, in a pedestal-table, of draw-rods adjustably secured at their lower ends to the lower ends of the pedestals, opposite bearings arranged upon each of the pedestal-sections, inclined blocks arranged opposite said bearings, levers arranged in the bearings and connected to the upper ends of the draw-rods, and rollers on the free ends of the levers adapted to ride up said inclined blocks.

2. The combination, in a pedestal-table, of perforated brackets secured to the lower edges of the pedestal-sections, bearings lo cated upon the upper sides of the pedestalsections, inclined concaved blocks located on the pedestal-sections opposite the bearings, levers pivoted in the bearings and adapted at their front ends to ride up the inclined blocks and provided with perforations, draw-rods threaded at their lower ends and passed through the brackets and at their upper ends laterally bent engaging the openings in the levers and provided with securing means, and nuts threaded on the lower ends of the draw-rods and bearing against the brackets.

3. The combination, in a pedestal extension-table, of opposite vertically-movable drawing elements each connected with a pedestal-section, and means arranged upon and carried by the table-sections and connected to said drawing elements for exerting vertical tension on said drawing elements as the tablesections approach each other and for releasing said elements from tension as said tablesections separate.

4:. The combination, in a pedestal-table, of a drawing element for and connected to each of the pedestal-sections, a movable element carried by each of the pedestal-sections at a point above the same and connected to said drawing element of that section, and means carried by each of the pedestal-sections for vertically actuating said movable element of the opiposite pedestal-section.

5. he combination, in a pedestal-table, of a drawing element connected to each of the pedestal-sections near the lower ends of the latter and extending at their upper ends above said pedestal-sections, vertically-movable elements connected to said drawing ele ment and mounted upon each of the pedestalsections above the same, and 'means carried by the 1 opposing pedestal sections upon which said movable elements are mounted and adapted to operate said movable elements upon the closing of the pedestal-sections.

6. The combination, in a pedestal-table, of opposite vertically-disposed draw-rods connected to the lower ends of the pedestal-sections, oppositelydisposed drawin -levers each connected with a draw-rod an having their opposite ends loosely supported upon thecompanion sections, inclined blocks arranged upon the opposite sections in the paths of the free ends of the levers, and a tastening device carried by the table-top sec-. tions and adapted to fasten the parts in their locked positions.

7. The combination, in a pedestal-table, of a suitable fastenin device carried by the table-top sections, rawing elements carried by the edestal-sections secured to the lower ends 0 the same and extending above said pedestal-sections, a vertically-movable element mounted upon each pedestal-section and each connected with a drawing element, and means carried by each of the pedestalsections and adapted to operate upon the movable element of the opposite section when said sections are in the act of being brought together.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JULIUS T. SENG.

Witnesses:

FRANK J. SENG, WENDELIN P. SENG. 

